Hammer



sept; 16, 1941- O.J.FOTIN' 2,427,399

HAMMER Filed April 18, 1946 Inventor 1 I OM51? J FbRT/N I? I M Patented Sept. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAMMER Omer J Fcrtin, Laconia, N; Application dpril 1 8, 1946, Serial No. 653,089

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in hammers, more specifically, to the provision of looking means whereby the handle and the hammer head may be securely held together in such manner, as to prevent the same from becoming accidentally separated.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described, in which the handle may be readily secured in the head, yet in which manual adjustment is necessary before the same may be separated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device, so to speak, which, in addition to its use in association with a hammer, may also be generally employed in axes, picks and the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction, safe and dependable in operation, and which can not easily become damaged.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the in vention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken in the plane of the line 3--3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken in the plane of the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the jaws used in the invention, and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view, taken in the plane of the line 6-6 in Figure 1.

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention embodies in its construction a conventional handle it and a suitable hammer head designated generally by the reference character H. with a bore l2 adapted to receive one end of the handle in.

The sides of the head H are provided with recesses l3, the latter being configurated substantially as shown and communicating with the bore l2. A transversely extending pivot pin 14 is positioned in each of the recesses I3, the purpose of this pin being hereinafter more fully set forth.

The head II is formed Each of a pair of jaws designated generally by the reference character [5 consists of a plate it, arcuated at one end thereof as shown at IT, whereby the jaw may be pivotally mounted on one of the pins [4.

The mid-portion of the plate [6 may be recessed as at [8, and the remaining end portion of the plate is relieved as at l9, and angulated to provide a pair of spaced, pointed prongs 20.

As is best illustrated in the accompanying Figure 3, the jaws l5 extend in a mutually convergent relationship from the pins l4 toward the handle receiving end of the bore l2. In other words, the pointed extremities of the jaws are disposed adjacent to the end of the bore into which the handle [0 is inserted during the application thereof to the head H.

A plurality of wedges 2| are arranged in a cross shaped formation best illustrated in Figure 1, in the remaining end of the bore l2, the wedges 2| being formed integrally with the head H. It will be noted that the pointed extremities of these wedges are inwardly disposed and are adapted to engage the end 22 of the handle it, when the handle is inserted into the bore l2.

It will be apparent that in this manner, that is, by the gripping action of the jaws l5 and the wedging action of the wedges 2|, the handle Hl will be securely held in the head II, and accidental separation thereof will thus be prevented.

The recesses 13 are formed with inclined walls 23 in the proximity of the prongs 20. When it is desirable to remove the handle from the hammer head, a screw driver or a similar implement may be wedged, so to speak, against the walls 23 and engaged with the recess IQ of the jaws [5. It will be apparent that in this manner, the jaw may be forced outwardly, that is, out of engagement with the handle H], whereupon the handle may be pushed outwardly from the bore I2, by means of a suitable instrument passed through the openings 24 defined by the wedges 2!, through which openings access may be had to the end 22 of the handle II].

It is believed that the use and advantages of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and. accordingly, further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of the parts may be re- 3 sorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

A hammer or a like implement, comprising in combination, a handle and a head formed with a bore to receive one end of said handle, the sides of said head being formed with recesses communicating with said bore, a transversely extending pivot pin in each of said recesses, a pair of jaws, each of said jaws comprising a plate arcuated at one end thereof for pivotal mounting on one of said pins, the remaining end portion of said plate being relieved and angulated to provide a pair of spaced, pointed prongs, said jaws extending in a convergent relationship from said pins toward the handle receiving end of said bore, said prongs engaging the sides of said handle, said recesses being formed with 4 inclined walls in the proximity of said prongs, and a plurality of wedges arranged'in a cross shaped formation in the remaining end of said bore, said wedges being formed integrally with said head and engaging the adjacent end of said handle.

OMER J. FORTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 885,286 Phillis Apr. 21, 1908 2,279,310 Grey Apr. 14, 1942 2,359,117 Johnson Sept. 26, 1944 

